Syrjäisissä

Syrjäisissä is a Finnish grammatical form—the inessive plural of the adjective syrjäinen. It is used to describe locations that are far from urban centers, i.e., in the remote areas. The form typically accompanies a noun (as in syrjäisissä oloissa, “in remote conditions”) but can also function as a stand-alone locative in sentences such as “Syrjäisissä on hiljaista,” meaning “In the remote areas it is quiet.”

Etymology and meaning: The root syrjä means edge or fringe, giving rise to syrjäinen meaning remote or outlying. The suffix -issä marks the inessive plural, indicating persisting location “in the remote places.” Together, the word conveys physical distance, geographical periphery, and the sense of being away from central areas.

Usage and nuance: In journalism, literature, and social commentary, syrjäisissä often carries connotations of isolation, limited services, or small, closely knit communities. It can describe geography, economy, or everyday life in forests, hills, or sparsely populated municipalities. The term is neutral in itself but is frequently used to evoke atmosphere—either the challenges associated with rural life or the resilience of its inhabitants.

Related terms: The root appears in syrjäinen and in syrjäytyminen (social marginalization), illustrating the broader concept of periphery in Finnish. The word is commonly found in dictionaries and language resources, and it appears in everyday speech to specify location relative to urban centers.